2nd Circular 20.03 '14 22.03 '14 Middle Palaeolithic in North-West Europe: Multidisciplinary approaches

Namur (Belgium)

Presentation: North-west Europe is a key area to help deciphering Neanderthal societies in connection with their natural landscapes. The region presents various contexts where loessic, karstic, fluvial, lacustrine and coastal environ- ments coexist. This area was the subject of important climatic con- trasts, with environmental conditions fluctuating from intergla- cial forest to polar desert. Moreover, the diversity of the geological substratum defines the availability of various natural ressources.

This conference aims to provide an up-to-date overview of the available documentation on the Middle Palaeolithic of north-west Europe and to discuss the current research problematics on Neanderthal behaviour in a multidisci- plinary perspective.

Welcome to Belgium… Belgium lies at the border of two worlds: the great loessic plain in the north, the Ardenne-Eifel Palaeozoïc massif in the south, including numerous caves. This territory therefore generated variability in human behaviour, particularly highlighted by the lithic ressources management.

Besides, located in the heart of north-west Europe, Belgium acted as a after Haesaerts 1981 profile, et al., crossroad, where influences from groups from both western and central Europe met and intermingled. 1994; after Otte, core, Rocourt on refitted : flakes

Organizing Committee: Scientific Committee: The conference is organized by a joint team from the Pierre Antoine (CNRS, France) Scladina Cave Archaeological Center (Scladina) and Nick Ashton (British Museum, Great Britain) the “Service public de Wallonie” (SPW). Pascal Bertran (INRAP, France)

Kévin Di Modica, archaeologist (Scladina) Pascal Depaepe (INRAP, France) Michel Toussaint, palaeoanthropologist (SPW) Damien Flas (FNRS – Université de Liège, Belgium) Stéphane Pirson, geologist (SPW) Paul Haesaerts (RBINS, Belgium) Dominique Bonjean, archaeologist (Scladina) Jean-Jacques Hublin (Max Planck Institute, Germany) Grégory Abrams, archaeozoologist (Scladina) Foni Le Brun-Ricalens (MNHA, Luxemburg) Jean-Luc Locht (INRAP, France) With the logistic support of the “Cellule Events-DGO4” (SPW) Marie-Hélène Moncel (CNRS – MNHN, France) Marcel Otte (Université de Liège, Belgium) Juergen Richter (Universität zu Köln, Germany) Wil Roebroeks (Universiteit Leiden, The Netherlands) Veerle Rots (FNRS – Université de Liège, Belgium) Patrick Semal (RBINS, Belgium) Chris Stringer (NHM, Great Britain) Philip Van Peer (KUL, Belgium) Neanderthal remains and Evocation of the Scladina child. of Evocation and remains Neanderthal Clarys, B. Drawing: archaeologica © Scladina cave center Scientific programme (March the 20th-21st):

The conference wants to present multiple key aspects of the research on Middle Palaeolithic in north-west Europe. The integration of anthropological, archaeological and contextual data in an interdis- ciplinary spirit has been encouraged. The goal of this transversal approach is to decompartmentalize these disciplines so that the con- tribution of each actor can be appreciated within the larger field of archaeological problematics, such as cultural expressions, territorial management or population dynamics, all of it in a diachronic and transregional perspective.

The concerned geographical area is not limited to the loessic plain. It covers the north-western part of Europe, limited on the south by the Loire Valley, the Massif Central and the Alpine arc, and on the east by the Bohemian Massif and the Oder Valley. This wide geo- graphical setting integrates into the discussion Middle Palaeolithic sites from various contexts and will particularly encourage a dia- logue based on data from open-air and cave sites.

Chronologically speaking, the entire Middle Palaeolithic will be Geographic area concerned by the conference discussed from its older manifestations and roots in the Lower Basemap © ESRI, graph. : K. Di Modica (Scladina Cave Archaeological Center) Palaeolithic up to the extinction of Neandertals and the shift to the Upper Palaeolithic.

Field trip (22nd March): The post-conference field trip will be organized at some Belgian Middle Palaeolithic key sites :

• Morning: Spy and Goyet Caves • Lunch time • Afternoon: Scladina Cave, its archaeological Centre and the exhibition “Neandertal l’Européen” • Walking dinner

Extra cost: 20€ (including coach, lunch, visit of exhibition “Neandertal, l’Européen” and walking dinner). Registration required (before the 7th of March 2014, including payment).

Excavation in Scladina Cave © Scladina Cave Archaeological Center

Social programme:

• The 21st of March: Closing dinner in Namur. • The 22nd of March: A visit of the Exhibition “Neandertal l’Européen” and a walking dinner will be organized at Scladina Cave Archaeological Centre (at the end of the fieldtrip).

Spy Cave © SPW Provisional programme:

20th March 8:00-8:45 Registration 8:45-9:00 Opening speech 9:00-12:20 Session 1: Context Chronostratigraphic context of Middle Palaeolithic in the loess sequence 9:00-9:20 P. Haesaerts from Belgium Upper Pleistocene loess-palaeosols records from Northern France in 9:20-9:40 P. Antoine et al. the European context: environmental background and dating of the Middle Palaeolithic 9:40-10:00 W. Schirmer Loess of the Lower Rhineland 10:00-10:20 P. Bertran Formation processes of Palaeolithic sites: the role of natural factors 10:20-10:50 Coffee break 10:50-11:10 S. Pirson Connecting Middle Palaeolithic karstic and loessic sites: where do we stand? Evolutions, biochronological and palaeoecological contributions of 11:10-11:30 P. Auguste mammal associations in North-West Europe during the Middle Palaeolithic 11:30-11-50 F. Damblon Middle Palaeolithic plant environments in North-West Europe 11:50-12:20 Discussion 12:20-13:30 Lunch & Poster session 13:30-16:00 Session 2: Regional archaeological syntheses The Early and Late Middle Palaeolithic of Britain compared: developments 13:30-13:50 N. Ashton et al. in technology and behaviour 13:50-14:10 J.-L. Locht et al. The Middle Palaeolithic of northern France 14:10-14:30 A. Verpoorte The Middle Palaeolithic of the Netherlands – contexts and prospects 14:30-14:50 J. Richter The Middle Palaeolithic of Germany (provisional title) The Middle Palaeolithic of the Middle Moselle Basin: available information 14:50-15:10 F. Le Brun-Ricalens from Luxembourg and surrounding areas 15:10-15:30 K. Di Modica et al. Middle Palaeolithic data on the Belgian territory 15:30-16:00 Discussion 16:00-16:30 Coffee break 16:30-17:10 Keynote W. Roebroeks & 16:30-17:10 The colonisation of western Europe: coarse and fine-grained perspectives P. Depaepe 17:10-18:30 Session 3: Middle Palaeolithic in the North Sea Pleistocene Rhine–Thames landscapes: geological background for hominin 17:10-17:30 M. Hijma et al. occupation of the southern North Sea region Early prehistory under the sea: investigating Middle Palaeolithic 17:30-17:50 L. Tizzard et al. archaeology and submerged landscapes in the southern North Sea The great fossil mine of the southern North Sea; exploring the potential of 17:50-18:10 R.M. Bynoe et al. submerged Palaeolithic archaeology Neandertals of the Channel River Valley: new work at La Cotte de 18:10-18-30 M. Bates et al. St. Brelade 21st March 8:30-9:00 Welcome coffee 9:00-11:00 Session 4: Anthropology 9:00-9:20 J.-J. Hublin Replacement vs assimilation: how much Neandertal in us? The last 500,000 years of human evolution in Eurasia: fossil and genetic 9:20-9:40 C. Stringer perspectives New fossils at the «Troisième caverne» of Goyet (Belgium) and the 9:40-10:00 H. Rougier et al. mortuary practices of Late Neandertals The mourning dawn: neandertal funerary practices and complex 10:00-10:20 S. Schwarz responses to death 10:20-10:40 P. Semal et al. The adult Neandertals from Spy and the variability of Late Neandertals Neandertal mobility patterns in the Meuse valley. Insights and perspectives 10:40-11:00 C. Verna et al. through strontium isotope analysis on dental enamel 11:00-11:30 Coffee break 11:30-13:10 Session 5: Isotopes, Archaeozoology & Palynology Evolutions, biochronological and palaeoecological contributions of 11:30-11-50 H. Bocherens et al. mammal associations in North-West Europe during the Middle Palaeolithic Insight into the ecology of Neandertals in North-West Europe: stable 11:50-12:10 C. Wissing et al. isotopes and their paleobiological implications The exploitation of faunal resources in North-West Europe: updated review 12:10-12:30 G. Abrams et al. of the main sites Neandertal occupations and land-use in karstic environments from 12:30-12:50 C. Daujeard et al. southern Belgium and south-eastern France during the early Upper Pleistocene: regional or common features? Cave palynology as a tool for vegetation and climate change reconstructions 12:50-13:10 M. Court-Picon et al. during the Middle Palaeolithic: myth or reality? 13:10-14:20 Lunch & Poster session 14:20-18:10 Session 6: Archaeology 14:20-14:40 D. Hérisson et al. The Emergence of Middle Palaeolithic in western Europe Palaeolithic land use in Dutch and Belgian Limburg, integrating artifact 14:40-15:00 P. Glauberman assemblage data from upland open air sites The point during the Middle Palaeolithic: reflection of a specific status in 15:00-15:20 E. Goval et al. Neandertal hunting equipment and toolkits 15:20-15:40 K. Ruebens Regional behaviour among late Neandertal groups in western Europe 15:40-16:00 G. Bosinski The Rheindahlian 16:00-16:30 Coffee break Evaluating functional data on tool use, hafting and site function in 16:30-16:50 V. Rots the European Middle Palaeolithic N. Limondin-Lozouet Neandertal occupation during MIS 5e at Caours (northern France): 16:50-17:10 et al. a multidisciplinary study The Discoïd techno-complex (MIS 3) at Ormesson and across the Paris 17:10-17:30 M. Leroyer et al. sedimentary basin. Consistency and flexibility of a singular technical choice with relation to the lithological context F. Blaser & Lithic industries of the beginning of the Weichselian in Saint-Illiers-la-Ville 17:30-17:50 C. Chaussée (Yvelines) and the question of Paris Basin’s Micoquian. The last Neandertals in North-West Europe and the Lincombian- 17:50-18:10 D. Flas Ranisian-Jerzmanowician 18:10-18:30 Conclusion of the Conference by Pr. M. Otte Practical information: Conference location: The conference will take place in the auditorium of “Moulins de Beez”, rue Moulins de Meuse, 4 B-5000 Namur (see detailed map on the website).

Conference language: The conference (lectures, posters, fieldtrip presentations) will be held exclusively in English.

Conference fees: • Conference: 80€ (regular) 40€ (students) Includes registration, abstract volume, field guide, coffee breaks and lunches • Field trip: 20€ Includes coach, lunch, visit of the exhibition “Neandertal l’Eu-

ropéen” and walking dinner. Moulins de Beez © Guy Focant, SPW • Closing dinner (21st of March, evening): 20€

Registration: 1. Registration is done online at www.scladina.be/mpc2014.htm 2. Registration will be complete after payment of the conference fee 3. The payment has to made on IBAN: BE29 3770 4218 8064 (BIC: BBRUBEBB). In communication: NAME, REGULAR/ STUDENT, EXCURSION and/or CLOSING DINNER. 4. Registration deadline (including payment): the 7th of March 2014.

Website: Further information will be regularly posted on the website of the conference: www.scladina.be/mpc2014.htm

FICHE D’ACCESSIBILITE MULTIMODALE ©

AUDITORIUM DES MOULINS DE BEEZ

rue du Moulin de Meuse, 4 B - 5000 NAMUR (BEEZ)

Tél. : 081/65 41 40 Fax : 081/65 41 44 Situation Géographique

Légende

Scladina, layer 5 : flakes refitted on core © Scladina cave archaeological center

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This conference is organized by :

This conference is organized within the framework of the event “Archéologie 2014”, celebrating the 25th anniversary of the regionalization of archeology in Belgium. Further information on www.archeo2014.be